Do you have a "safe room" to protect you?  

You can still have a safe room. Choose a family member's room for everyone to congregate in if you have an emergency. Install a lock that can't be unlocked from the outside, or find a way to block the door from the inside with a board. Keep a bucket for a toilet, store some water and some cans of food in the closet plus a flashlight and batteries. There, you have a safe room to protect you till help comes!

If you don't have a basement I don't think that's too much of a problem. You don't have tornadoes there, I don't think. You just need some extra food and a secure room to gather in.

Underground is a great place to be for nearly any type of disaster. I have a two story house, though, and sleep on the second floor. Therefore, I set up a safe room right there as well as my storm room in the basement.

That is my situation, as well.

I have heard here and there that as the economy gets worse, there will be more people out of work and more crime against one's neighbors. I have always believed in preparing for the worst but hoping for the best! You have a good start there. You need to be able to secure the room from within, though. A board across it and some brackets to hold it-or a good deadbolt-will do the job nicely.

I have some furniture that would block it well, or a board, as you said. If I was to be in trouble, I would be here alone. Hubby would be at work. Safety wise there are some things that work in my favor. For instance, I could go out a window and down a porch to get out from my bedroom in case of a fire or something like that.

You are a dear man!

Crime is increasing here as more and more people lose their jobs. Home invasions--people just bash down your door and take what they want, often injuring the people living there--are on the rise. I just like to be ready for anything and I've found that life is easier that way. If adversity can't surprise you, you are halfway to overcoming it.

Yes, I've lived in a place that was broken into. At that time, about 35 years ago, I scared the person off and everything was alright but it made me feel very vulnerable. Ever since then, I've been prepared for a repeat or one with variations. Preparation is the best defense.

I have heard of such things but never actually known anyone that it happened to. Sometimes I think that we have fear of fear itself. In the UK young (under 30), smartly dressed men are the most likely group to be mugged. Yet it is little old ladies that have the greatest fear and they are the least preyed on.

But you are prepared! That's more than most people. A lot of people will just wait for the government to come and save them, and those are the ones who fare the worst in natural disasters and emergencies.

If you have your dogs, guns and emergency supplies you'll do well whether it's a home invasion or a natural disaster.

There isn't a lot of crime in my area either but I'd rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it. That's good you have a generator and all, you really do need to lay aside some canned food and bottled water. You never know when you'll wish you had.

You planned well! Not many of us have that option, though. We should all do our best to protect ourselves and our loved ones using what we have and that's what I've done. I sure as hell don't want to be one of those that sit around waiting for the government to save me or depend on the speed of the local law enforcement to save my butt. I've saving up for a firearm and in the meantime I use what I have.

Law enforcement doesn't arrive until after the fact anyways. Then it's nothing but paperwork while the mortician cleans up.... They're all but useless. You have to be ready to protect yourself.

I feel safe in my neighborhood, too. Although it's just a stone's throw from the center of my small city, it is fairly quiet and we rarely see the police except when they occasionally cruise through. Like you, I have no valuables and live very simply but I would rather be prepared. With unemployment getting worse here and benefits running out, we may see more crime and home invasions even in the "best" neighborhoods. Most of the people in mine are average people that live paycheck to paycheck, just getting by, but decent and nice.

LOL! No, I'm not paranoid like that. My bedroom is right across from my safe room. I chose that room because I can just get up and go across the hall if I hear someone breaking in downstairs. I don't sit around all day in fear of someone invading my house but I like to be prepared for all circumstances.

lol. my post was mostly just a joke. xD

There's really not much you can do to prepare for this type of thing but I feel better knowing that I've done what I could. It's even more important to have canned goods like you do, in case of natural disaster. Don't forget to buy a few jugs or bottles of water in case there is no drinkable water for some reason. Then you'll be fine, not have to wait helplessly for aid if something happens.